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2019 was a bad year for child drownings

Oct. 30, 2019—
At least 150 children under the age of 15 drowned in swimming pools or spas this past summer, according to a report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The numbers come from a compilation of media reports.

That's approximately two more drownings than occurred last year.

Texas and Ohio had the most fatal child drownings during summer 2019. Texas saw an increase from 21 drownings in 2018 to 26 this past summer. Ohio's 11 drownings are a record high for that state. Florida and California had 10 drownings each. No other states were in double digits.

CPSC urges parents and caregivers to continue keeping a vigilant eye on children near pools and spas even in the off-season. To keep kids safer in and around the water, CPSC also advises that adults:

Install a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around all pools and spas.

Designate an adult "water watcher" to supervise kids at all times around the water.

Learn how to swim and teach your children how to swim.

Learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on kids and adults.

Teach children to stay away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.

Ensure any pool or spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards. If you're not sure, ask your pool service provider about safer drain covers.